Top 5 Microsoft announcements from Ignite 2017

Microsoft's Ignite conference may not be the most interesting event for general consumers, but the company still had a few flashy announcements in store this week. From quantum computing to the next generation of Office, here's a look at some of the top announcements to come out of Ignite 2017.

Office 2019 breaks cover

The next big Office release is on the horizon, as Microsoft has revealed Office 2019. As the followup to Office 2016, Office 2019 will debut in the second half of 2018, but preview versions of Office 2019 apps will begin rolling out in mid-2018. As for what to expect, Microsoft is playing its cards fairly close to its chest, but it did confirm you can expect new inking effects, new animation features in PowerPoint, and enhancements for IT managers.

Tracking Insider feedback is getting easier

If you provide a lot of feedback to Microsoft through the Windows Insider program, it's currently a bit of a hassle to keep track of what's been addressed and what hasn't. Microsoft is moving to make things a little easier with a change that will proactively alert Insiders when their feedback has been addressed or merged with another issue. Release notes for Insider builds on all rings will also soon be easier to track with an upcoming dedicated Universal Windows App and website.

Microsoft 365 heads to the classroom

Microsoft 365 is spreading its wings to the classroom with its latest iteration. Microsoft 365 for education bundles together Windows 10, Office 365 for Education, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Minecraft: Education Edition. Educational institutions will be able to get all four in a subscription bundle that educators and students to take advantage of.

Microsoft prepares for a Quantum Computing future

Quantum computing is seen as the next big frontier in computing, and Microsoft is laying the groundwork for its own long-term play. The company announced its own quantum computing programming language that will be available for developers to preview in Visual Studio by the end of the year. It may be quite a while before we see instructions carried out on an actual quantum computer, but Microsoft is hoping developers will seize the opportunity to try programming for a quantum simulator.

Your thoughts?

What was your favorite announcement from Ignite 2017? Let us know in the comments below!